Guidance

Moldova: bereavement information

Updated 7 February 2023

Disclaimer

This information is not meant to be definitive, nor is it to be taken as a substitute for independent legal advice. Neither His Majesty’s Government nor its staff take any responsibility for the accuracy of the information, nor accept liability for any loss, costs, damage or expense that you might suffer as a result of relying on the information. Some of the information may not be relevant to your circumstances. The language used is intended to be general and factual and is not meant to cause offence.

Introduction

When a relative or friend dies abroad, different procedures, laws or language can cause additional distress. You may be uncertain about what to do or who to contact.

This country specific information is designed to help you through some of the practical arrangements you may need to make. It supplements the general information on death abroad produced by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), which applies to all countries.

Please note, as each country has its own laws and customs when a death occurs, it may not be possible to make the arrangements that you prefer, or at the time you would like.

How to contact the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)

You can speak to someone by phone 24/7, any day of the year by contacting the FCDO in London on +44 (0)207 008 5000.

If you are not in the UK, you can find the contact details of the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate.

The FCDO provides assistance to British nationals overseas who need the most help. The level and type of assistance they can offer is tailored to the individual circumstances of each case.

Next of kin

The next of kin of the person who died will usually need to make decisions and practical arrangements. The next of kin can sometimes appoint another person to act on their behalf.

If you are not the next of kin, they will need to be informed. We can help you do this, if needed.

There is no legal definition of next of kin in the UK. If there is a disagreement over who is the next of kin, or the person who died did not choose a next of kin, this can cause additional complications.

Release of information to next of kin

We will try to obtain as much information as possible after your relative or friend has died abroad. Some of this may be only available to next of kin. Consular officers may be able to obtain this themselves, or they may put you in touch directly with the authorities overseas. They may be able to provide you with details of others who can advocate on your behalf such as lawyers, charities, or other organisations.

Insurance

It is very important to check if the person who died had insurance. If they had insurance, contact the insurance company as soon as possible. They may have a list of approved funeral directors to help you make arrangements, or be able to cover some of the costs.

If the person who died did not have insurance, the next of kin will usually have to appoint a funeral director and will usually be responsible for all costs. The UK Government cannot help with these costs.

If you are next of kin, consular staff in London will tell the British Embassy in Chisinau your wishes for the disposal of the body, and details of who is taking responsibility for the costs involved. We will do our best to ensure these wishes are carried out.

Under Moldovan law, a deceased person must be buried within 72 hours of death. However, in the case of foreign nationals the authorities will normally allow as much time as necessary.

If the deceased was travelling with a tour operator, they may be a valuable source of assistance and advice.

Appointing a funeral director

If you decide to bring the deceased to the UK for the funeral or cremation, you may only need to appoint an international funeral director. Find a list of international funeral directors based in the UK.

If you decide to hold a funeral or cremation in Moldova, you can find a list of funeral directors based in Moldova.

Registering the death and obtaining a death certificate

You will need to register the death with the local authorities in Moldova. A funeral director may be able to do this for you.

Medical death certificate

The attending physician or coroner will complete a medical death record, known as ‘Certificat medical constatator de deces’ in Romanian, within 24 hours. This medical certificate will include the likely cause of death. If the cause of death is uncertain, this process can take much longer.

Death certificate

After the medical death certificate is issued, you can register the death with the Public Services Agency. They can issue a death certificate (in Romanian) within 24 hours.

If you want this document legalised, you can go to the local Ministry of Justice (legalisation services) to have the ‘Apostille’ attached to it.

Register the death with the UK

Deaths of British nationals overseas are not automatically recorded at the UK Register Office, nor with the British Embassy.

You do not need to register the death with the UK authorities.

The local death certificate can usually be used in the UK for most purposes, including probate. If it is not in English, you will need to get an official translation and pay for this.

Post mortem examinations (autopsies)

An autopsy is mandatory for foreign nationals who die in Moldova

Some exceptions may apply:

• if they died in hospital and the doctor states the cause of death
• if they died of natural causes
• for religious beliefs - but if the local authorities believe the death is suspicious, they may insist on carrying out an autopsy

The local authorities will need to be told if the person suffered from an infectious condition such as hepatitis or HIV so they can take precautions against infection.

Autopsies are carried out by court appointed forensic doctors.

During an autopsy, parts of organs can be removed for testing, including toxicological, hysto-pathological studies, without consent of next of kin. Next of Kin are not informed about the removal of any organs, however they can request a copy of the report.

The deceased’s body can be buried in Moldova or returned to the UK before tests on removed organs are completed. The next of kin can write a letter to the director of Centre for Legal Medicine requesting the return of these organs once tests are complete.

Mortuary facilities

There are mortuaries in every hospital in Chisinau and in regional medical facilities, which are of a different standard. There is one republican mortuary which is of higher standard (Chisinau, str. Korolenko 8). Cold storages are available in most major cities and are of the similar standard as in Chisinau. Some of the funeral directors might have a cooling facility of their own.

Repatriation and burial

A body is usually released for burial, cremation or repatriation after the death certificate has been issued, or on completion of the autopsy.

If the deceased was covered by travel insurance, the insurance company will normally have a standing agreement with an International funeral director in Britain to arrange repatriation. If the deceased is not covered by insurance, next of kin will need to appoint an undertaker in Moldova or an International funeral director themselves.

Find a UK-based international funeral director

Find a local funeral director in Moldova

Local undertakers in Moldova are equipped to carry out repatriation procedures and will provide the special caskets required for international repatriation.

To repatriate the body, you will need:

• a local civil registry death certificate
• the doctor’s death certificate (indicating cause of death)
• a certificate of embalming
• a certificate giving permission to transfer the remains to the UK

The undertaker will organise this for you. Our Embassy can provide covering certificates for British customs. Local processes for repatriation normally takes 5 to 10 days to complete.

Local burial

Next of kin can request for a local burial, which can be arranged by local funeral directors. You will be charged for this.

There will be no Coroner’s inquest in the UK when the remains are buried or cremated locally.

Cremation

There are no cremation facilities in Moldova.

You can ask your funeral director to arrange for cremation in Odessa, Ukraine. The FCDO currently advises against all travel  to Ukraine so you should not travel with the body, and the ashes can be sent to you. After cremation the funeral director will provide you with a cremation certificate.

Return of personal belongings

If the person who died had insurance, check with the insurance company if this covers the return of their personal belongings.

Personal belongings are normally returned to next of kin - or their authorised representative - with ID. The personal effects may be held at the hospital, coroner’s office, police station or the deceased’s former place of residence.

In the case of a suspicious death the investigative body may retain the personal belongings which will be returned to the family on completion of the investigation or can be retained as evidence and returned until the court case has finished.

The British Embassy cannot take responsibility for the personal belongings of the person who died.

Check you have done everything you need to do in the UK

Check this step-by-step guide for when someone dies to make sure you have done everything you need to do in the UK after someone has died. You can find information on how to tell the government about the death, UK pensions and benefits and dealing with the estate of the person who died.

British passport cancellation

In order to avoid identity fraud, the passport of the person who died should be cancelled with HM Passport Office (HMPO). To do this, you will need to complete a “D1 form”.

The form and instructions on where to send the passport is available online.

If you plan to repatriate the person who died to the UK, you may require their passport to do this. In these circumstances, you should cancel the passport after they have been repatriated.

Death by road traffic accident

Road traffic accidents are dealt with by the local police force. A copy of the incident report can be made available to the family upon request.

Death investigated as murder or manslaughter

If the local police have confirmed that they are investigating the death as a murder or manslaughter a dedicated team within the FCDO will be available to provide support, including by referring you to a specialised organisation.

Suspicious deaths are dealt with by the Office of the Prosecutor General and the Ministry of Interior in Moldova. You can find more about how the FCDO can help with murder and manslaughter abroad.

You should note that if the deceased is repatriated to parts of the UK a coroner or procurator fiscal may decide to hold an inquest. See the section on UK Coroners and inquests below.

UK coroners and inquests

If you repatriate the person who died to England and Wales, there may be an inquest. The decision on when to hold an inquest is made by His Majesty’s Coroner. Please note, an inquest will usually only happen in certain situations, for example, when someone has died in suspicious, unnatural, and violent circumstances or whilst in detention. If the person who died is cremated and only their ashes are brought home, there will not be an inquest.

If you repatriate the person who died to Scotland, the Procurator Fiscal may decide to call for a Fatal Accidents or Injuries Inquiry.

If you repatriate the person who died to Northern Ireland, there will be no coronial inquest or further inquiry.

Please note, Procurators Fiscal and Coroners do not have jurisdiction in another country, nor do they try to blame a named individual.

You can find more information on Coroners and the Procurator Fiscal in the FCDO guide on death abroad

Legal Aid

There is no legal aid available in Moldova.

Compensation

There are no formal government compensation schemes available, although damages can be claimed from the accused, and a decision will be made by the judge when the case is heard.

You can find information on UK compensation for victims of terrorism overseas

Support organisations in the UK

In the UK, there are many organisations that can help bereaved families. Some of these are listed in the guide coping with death abroad.